Wow! 2008 already - a blank slate with so many wonderful possibilities!

Comet says: Here's a couple of suggestions for New Year's resolutions:
1. Get off your paws and make lots of cool things for your dogs
2. Make your dog happy at least once a day!

Annalee of California was the winner of our free Dog Necklace Kit in the November 30 drawing. Doug of Connecticut won the Dog Magnet Kit the month before that. Congratulations to you both, and happy crafting!
Hint - We'd be delighted if you sent pictures or a story about how things turned out...

Place your picture underneath the frame so it looks the way you want it

Glue the edges of your picture to the inside of the frame

Find a place you want to hang it

Adjust the string or wire to the right length and hang it up!

Reader's Write

Mary from Indiana wrote us a while back:hi, i am in the market for plans for kennels and runs. we will be building a pole barn and want runs and kennels incorporated into it. any info will be helpful. i am a breeder and if you have any playpen plans or whelping box info, please include. thanks.

Our Answer:At this time we do not have any plans for kennels or runs. In the meantime, if you haven't found any plans elsewhere, we suggest you look at existing facilities and (if possible) talk to the folks there about how they were built. Write down the ideas you get from that process. Keep in mind the main features you are looking for. For example: dog comfort, insulation, durability, slope of floor for cleaning, materials, alternate materials you could use, cost of materials, size of the kennels, height of the fences etc.

We once built a large triangular pole (peeled with a drawknife) corral to serve as a playpen for our daughter when we lived out in the boonies in southern Oregon some 20 years ago. We also built a pole shed for processing organic produce. For the playpen, pay attention to any open spaces between the poles so the puppies don't get their heads or paws stuck and, of course, be sure they can't wriggle through. Wire can be used to hold poles together at the corners: tag sharp end pieces with staples. Best regards, Stan and Jo

Reviews

Is your dog bored with the everyday? Here's an interesting book we found at a book sale:Dog Tricks for Dummies by Sarah Hodgson.
"Once you and your canine pal have serious training (for obedience, basic good behavior, and so on) under the belt, you can take the edge off by injecting the whole training process with some fun tricks and games."

Check out
Living With Farm Dogs
for an informative article by Kristin Mehus-Roe about how to keep your house and dog clean when your dog has access to mud and manure.

Tips & Tricks

Needing to cut up a cardboard box for a project? Here are some tips:

Tip 1:
To prevent the cardboard from tearing in the wrong direction, strengthen the area to be cut with pieces of wide masking tape or duct tape before you start.

Tip 2:
Use a knife that has small serrations like a steak or bread knife.

Tip 3:
Use the serrated knife like a saw. Take your time and take breaks if you need to.

Word Play

Panorama - what humans see looking at a viewDogorama - what dogs see when they're scanning for squirrels or cats